Jerusalem has special significance for Penderecki, who first visited it in 1974, following the �Yom Kippur� war. He was commissioned then to write a work for the third millennium celebration of the city of David. He composed the oratorio Seven Gates of Jerusalem in 1996 � the Eighth Gate being reserved for the Messiah in Jewish tradition. It was premi�red there the following year, with Lorin Maazel conducting. Following the work�s Polish premi�re, the composer decided to call it his Seventh Symphony.